Student Assistant to Dr. Monique de Jong McKenzie

MPIfG; Köln; Vor Ort; EUR 6.200 - 6.500; Teilzeit

Zusammenfassung

The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG) invites applications from a bachelor’s or master’s student for a part-time Student Assistant role.

The position supports research around 8 hours per week and begins October 1, 2026, under the project “Young Investors in the Maturing Asset Economy.” Responsibilities include policy research, literature reviews in German translated to English, social media data collection, and thematic coding using MaxQDA.

Qualifikationen

• Student enrolled in a university in Germany, bachelor’s or master’s student.
• Familiarity with qualitative research methods and ethics, thematic coding.
• Familiarity with social media platforms, particularly TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram.
• Strong written and verbal language skills in German and English.
• Excellent knowledge of Excel to generate a database with searchable categories and filters.

Aufgaben

• Policy research
• Literature reviewing and summarizing German texts in English
• Social media data collection and thematic coding
• Assist in designing and writing scientific papers with the project lead

Kenntnisse

German language

English language

Excel

Ausbildung

Sociology degree student

Tools

MaxQDA

Jobbeschreibung

Student Assistant (f/m/d)

The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG) conducts basic research on the governance of modern societies. It aims to develop an empirically based theory of the social and political foundations of modern economies by investigating the interrelation between social, economic, and political action. Building on the disciplinary traditions of sociology and political science, the Institute’s research program aims to combine and develop the approaches of new economic sociology and comparative and international political economy.

We currently have an immediate opportunity for a bachelor’s or master’s student who is enrolled at a university in Germany and interested in working around 8 hours per week as a

Student Assistant to Dr. Monique de Jong McKenzie

in her research project “Young Investors in the Maturing Asset Economy.” The position is to be filled as of October 1, 2026.

Your role

• Policy research
• Literature reviewing and summarizing German texts in English
• Social media data collection and thematic coding

You will have the opportunity to develop your coding and analytical skills in the qualitative data analysis software MaxQDA. Working with the project lead, you will also gain experience in all stages of designing and writing scientific papers, from formulating a research question to searching and structuring empirical materials, to analyzing the material and critically discussing the findings.

Your background and skills

• Student on a degree program ideally in sociology or in a comparable discipline (social science)
• Familiarity with social science qualitative research methods and ethics, particularly thematic coding (beneficial but not mandatory)
• Familiarity with social media platforms, particularly TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram
• Strong written and verbal language skills in German and English
• Excellent knowledge of Excel or similar software to generate a database with searchable categories and filters
• Very high level of ability to work independently and with attention to detail

What we offer

You will work at a renowned research institute in an international environment, with access to the MPIfG’s data and library resources and the opportunity to participate in its events. As part of a fixed-term employment contract (WissZeitVG), we offer remuneration in accordance with the Max Planck Society’s guidelines on support for junior scientists; the current rates are 15.00 euros per hour for bachelor’s students and 15.61 euros per hour for master’s students. Under our staff agreement on remote working, student assistants are required to work in person at the Institute once a week.

A collaborative and collegial working environment is integral to the MPIfG. Starting from the application process, we are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all our employees. The compatibility of career and family is one of our key concerns, as is the employment of people with disabilities.

ABOUT US

Talent, creativity, and passion are qualities the Max Planck Society and the MPIfG rely on. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We advocate equality of opportunity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, irrespective of gender, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation or identity. In diversity lies the basis for the cutting‑edge research conducted at over 80 Max Planck Institutes.

CONTACT

Almut Landgraf

Personnel Administration

[phone]

[e-mail]

September 2026

Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies Paulstr. 3 | 50676 Köln www.mpifg.de LinkedIn Bluesky